Uv-a and uv-b permeable fabric

ABSTRACT

A fabric having particularly good translucent properties with regard to UVA and UVB radiation, in particular for use in garments for the sport and leisure sector, with the transparency being reduced at the same time. The fabric comprises a first yarn made of cellulose-based fiber or regenerated fiber, and a second yarn made of polymer fiber. The proportion by weight of the first and second yarns is at least 80% by weight. The wale density is in the range from 10 to 30 per cm and the course density is in the range from 15 to 33 per cm. The second yarn has a fineness in the range from 45 to 300 dtex and the first yarn has a fineness in the range from 150 to 300 dtex. The grammage of the fabric is between 70 and 150 g/m{circumflex over ( )}2.

The invention relates to a fabric which has particularly goodtranslucent properties with regard to UVA and UVB radiation, inparticular for use in garments for the sport and leisure sector, withthe transparency being reduced at the same time.

The articles known on the market for their translucent properties arepredominantly in the swimwear sector and are therefore mostly madeentirely of synthetic fibers and are also mostly based on the warpknitting technique. The existing, heavily printed, net-likestructures—wherein the all-over print is supposed to hide thetransparency—cannot be used for the desired sports and leisure sector.In addition, the well-known articles only achieve a UPF of at most 23%.Other articles that do not come from the swimwear sector mainly allowUVA rays to pass through, but not UVB rays.

The technical object of the invention is faced with the difficulty ofachieving a defined, relatively high UV transmittance while at the sametime having a rather dense fabric construction for knitted goods. Theaim is to achieve a tan of the skin as uniform as possible through adefined, rather high transmission of solar radiation through the garmentduring outdoor activities. This must be the case both in the UVB and inthe UVA wave range. Since the goods are to be used in the sports andleisure sector (e.g. tennis), they must also be comfortable to wear,have a plain-colored appearance and a certain density. The object of theinvention is therefore the preparation or the provision of a fabrichaving a defined, rather high UV transmittance and at the same time verygood physiological characteristics in terms of wear.

The object is achieved by a fabric, in particular a knitted fabric, andgarments made from it.

The fabric according to the invention has at least one first and atleast one second yarn, said at least one first yarn comprising at leastone cellulose-based fiber and/or regenerated fiber, in particular atleast one lyocell fiber, and said at least one second yarn comprising atleast one polymer fiber, in particular made of synthetic polymer, inparticular at least one polyamide or polyester fiber. The use of the atleast one yarn and the at least second yarn, which, in particular,alternate over the width or length of the fabric, in particular wales orcourses, ensures a good match between good optical concealment of theperson wearing it and the desired UV transmission.

The use of polyamide results to some extent in a UV transmission that ismore similar in the UVA and UVB range than when using polyester.

A cellulose-based fiber can be a cotton or regenerated fiber, forexample. In a particularly high-quality version, the fabric has nocotton and/or no natural fibers, but only regenerated and polymerfibers.

Knitted fabrics usually consist of a large number of yarns, the sequenceof which is repeated several times over the width of the fabric. Whenconsidering the (number of) yarns, the smallest repeating sequence ofyarns or a system is considered in particular. In particular, a systemor the smallest yarn sequence that is repeated many times over the widthof the fabric comprises a first and a second yarn, in particularexclusively the first and the second yarn, in particular the fabric hasa, in particular always, recurring change of first and second yarn overits width.

The proportion by weight of the at least one first yarn and the at leastone second yarn together based on the total weight of the fabric is atleast 80% by weight, in particular at least 95% by weight.

The wale density of the fabric is in the range from 10 to 30 per cm andthe course density of the fabric is in the range from 15 to 33 per cm.The second yarn also has a fineness in the range from 45 to 300 dtex, inparticular at least 80 dtex and/or in particular at most 150 dtex, andthe first yarn has a fineness in the range from 150 to 300 dtex.

According to the invention, the grammage of the fabric is between 70 and150 g/m{circumflex over ( )}2.

The task can be achieved by the combination of these features.

Advantageously, the fabric does not comprise any cotton and/or anynatural fiber, and/or the fabric is formed exclusively fromcellulose-based fiber, regenerated and/or polymer fiber. The second yarnis preferably a multifilament, in particular with 90 to 150 filaments,and/or the first yarn is a monofilament.

The gram mage of the fabric is preferably between 90 and 130g/m{circumflex over ( )}2.

Advantageously, the wale density of the unshrunk fabric is in the rangeof 10 to 30 per cm, and/or the course density of the unshrunk fabric isin the range of 15 to 33 per cm, and/or the wale density of the fabricshrunk, in particular at 40° and/or when moist is in the range from 10to 30 per cm, and/or the course density of the fabric shrunk, inparticular at 40° and/or when moist, is in the range from 15 to 33 percm.

Advantageously, the first, in particular only the first, yarn is dyed.This takes place in particular before the fabric is knitted and enablesthe fabric to be structured in color even without printing or dyeing thefinished knitted fabric. The desired UV transmittance can be achieved inspite of the dyeing.

Advantageously, the second yarn does not contain any pigmentation and/oroptical brighteners.

It is particularly advantageous if the fabric consists exclusively ofthe first yarn, in particular of one type, and the second yarn, inparticular of one type.

A large number of yarns, the sequence of which is repeated, is used toproduce a knitted fabric. In particular, only two kinds or types of yarnare used, one kind or type of yarn for the first yarn and a second kindor type of yarn for the second yarn. These yarns are then repeatedseveral times across the width of the fabric.

Preferably, the fiber content of the cellulose-based fiber and/orregenerated, in particular lyocell fiber, in the at least one first yarnis at least 90%, in particular at least 95%, in particular 100%, basedon the total fiber content of all the fibers of the at least one firstyarn, and/or the fiber content of the polymer fiber, in particularpolyamide and/or polyester fiber, in the at least one second yarn is atleast 90% by weight, in particular at least 95% by weight, in particular100% by weight, based on the total fiber content of all the fibers ofthe at least one second yarn, and/or the polymer fiber comprises atleast 80% by weight polymer, in particular, the polymer fiber comprisesat least 80% by weight polyamide or polyester.

Preferably, the first and/or the second yarn, in particular all theyarns of the fabric, include less than 10% by weight, in particular lessthan 2% by weight, in particular no, additives and/or opticalbrighteners, as these can impair UV transmission.

The first and/or second yarn, in particular all the yarns of the fabric,preferably include less than 10% by weight, in particular less than 2%by weight, in particular no, pigments and/or TiO2.

In particular, the proportion by weight of the at least one first yarnis at least 30% by weight, in particular at least 40% by weight, and/orat most 70% by weight, in particular at most 60% by weight, based on thetotal weight of the fabric, and/or the proportion by weight of the atleast one second yarn is at least 30% by weight, in particular at least40% by weight, and/or at most 70% by weight, in particular at most 60%by weight, based on the total weight of the fabric.

In particular, the fabric is produced on a circular knitting machine, inparticular with a fineness of the circular knitting machine of at leastE24, that is to say at least 24 needles per inch, and/or at least 1needle per 1.1 mm. Finenesses of E38 or finer are preferred.

The ratio, in particular the weight ratio, of the proportion of the atleast one second yarn in the fabric relative to the proportion of the atleast one first yarn is preferably at least 1, in particular at least1.3, and/or at most 3, in particular at most 2.4.

Advantageously, the fabric has, in particular in the unprinted and/orundyed state, wherein this does not exclude dyeing of at least one, inparticular the first yarn, a transmittance of UVB rays, in particularover the entire UVB range (from 280 to 320 nm) and/or, in particularand, UVA rays, in particular over the entire UVA range (from 320 to 400nm) of at least 20%, in particular at least 30%, and/or at most 80%, inparticular at most 60%, in particular at most 50%. This enables abalanced setting between sun protection and tanning.

The fabric can preferably have a UV protection factor (USF) and/orUltraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), determined according to theAustralian/New Zealand Standard 4399:1996 for sun protecting clothingevaluation and classification (AS/NZS4399: 1996) in the range of 1 5 to5, in particular in the range from 3 to 5. This enables a balancedsetting between sun protection and tanning.

Preferably, the fabric is piqué or jacquard, wherein, in particular, theat least one first yarn and the at least one second yarn form thejacquard pattern.

Advantageously, the fabric is a knitwear, in particular a knittedfabric, in particular a piqué or jacquard knitted fabric, in particulara jacquard Jersey knitted fabric. This has proven to be particularlyadvantageous for setting and evenly distributing the UV protection.

Advantageously, the knitted fabric forming the fabric has a firstplurality of stitches and a second plurality of floats and/or handles,wherein, in particular, the second plurality is 10% to 35%, inparticular 10% to 30%, of the sum of the first and second pluralities,and/or wherein the fabric has handles and/or floats and in particularthe handles and/or floats are present in 40 to 60% of the wales and/orthe handles and/or floats are present in 20 to 60% of the courses. Thishas proven to be particularly advantageous for achieving the desired UVtransmittance with reduced transparency and an attractive appearance.

The fabric advantageously has a degree of optical covering of at least40% and/or a maximum of 90%, in particular between 50% and 80%, inparticular between 60% and 70%. Such a degree of optical coveringensures that the fabric is sufficiently opaque so that the fabric, forexample when it is used as clothing, covers the body with sufficientopacity, but at the same time still allows sufficient tanning, inparticular the maximum possible tanning.

According to the invention, a degree of the optical covering isunderstood to mean the opacity, in particular caused by the fabric,exerted by the fabric on an area underneath the fabric, i.e. a degree bywhich the area underneath is partially covered and/or by which the lightpassing through the fabric is prevented from exiting through the fabric.In other words, the degree of the optical opacity indicates whatpercentage of the light passing through the fabric onto a surfaceunderneath the fabric emanates from this surface and passes back throughthe fabric.

One possibility of determining this degree of optical covering will beexplained using the following example, with other possibilities alsobeing conceivable and possible.

In one possible test, a test background is provided by means of DIN A4paper, a grid being arranged on the paper. At least two grid areas arearranged on the grid, a first grid area having a first color and asecond grid area having a second color. The first color can be a skincolor, for example, in the RGB color space HEX #dab79b with an opacityof 100%. The second color can, for example, be the A4 paper's inherentcolor, e.g. white. The fabric is then placed on this A4 paper. Thefabric can lie directly on the paper or be spread out at a distance of,for example, 0.5 cm above the paper. The grid can, for example, consistof 54 tiles of 250×250 pixels width and height, which were applied to A4paper with 300 DPI. For the test, a light source can be placed over thefabric so that the fabric is located between the paper and the lightsource. In addition to the light source, a camera can also be arrangedin such a way that the fabric is also located between the paper and thecamera, with neither the camera nor the light source being arrangedbetween the fabric and the camera or light source, i.e. not standing ineach other's way. As the light source, for example, a light source with1400 lumens can be used. The light source can be arranged at a distanceof 50 cm from the fabric. The camera can also be arranged at thisdistance from the fabric. The aperture of the camera can be set to F2.8,for example, and the exposure time to 1/160, whereby an ISO value of 800can be defined. The paper, the fabric on the paper, the camera and thelight source can advantageously be arranged in a container that is inparticular opaque so that no further light that does not come from thelight source can strike the fabric and/or the paper. The light source isactivated for the measurement so that it irradiates the fabric or thepaper, and by means of the camera an image of the arrangement of thepaper with the fabric arranged thereon and optionally, namely if theproperties of the grid are not sufficiently known, an image of anarrangement without fabric are taken. These images can be evaluated withcommercially available computer programs, as long as they can be used toanalyze the property of the recorded color. In the case of a fabricaccording to the invention, it will be possible to determine by means ofthe analysis that the original color tone, for example HEX dab79baccording to the RGB space, is covered by the fabric in such a way thatonly between 40% and a maximum of 90%, in particular between 50% and80%, in particular between 60% and 70%, of the light can be absorbedagain, so that the opacity of the color tone is reduced by these valuesor a corresponding darker color tone can be analyzed. For example, itwas possible to determine in corresponding comparative tests that theoriginal color HEX #dab79b of the first grid area that was covered by afabric according to the invention and of which an image was takenthrough the fabric in an arrangement as described above by way ofexample, was detected as a color with a value of HEX #b98c77 in the RGBspace in the image taken, which corresponds to a reduction of 65%, whichis why this fabric according to the invention can be assigned a degreeof optical covering of 65%.

The object is also achieved by a garment comprising a fabric accordingto the invention, in particular predominantly, in particularexclusively, fabric according to the invention, the garment inparticular having no seams, in particular at least not between fabricparts or sections according to the invention. Advantageously, thegarment has at least one butt seam for connecting fabric, in particularfabric according to the invention, and/or sewing threads included forconnecting fabric, in particular fabric according to the invention, aredyed without pigmentation and/or only in a light shade.

Advantageously, the garment has at least one connection between twofabric parts or sections according to the invention, on which the fabricis no more than a single layer.

By taking the above measures, a UV transmission as uniform as possibleand thus tanning can be achieved.

Some aspects contributing to an understanding of the invention will beillustrated below with the aid of purely exemplary explanations that donot limit the invention. This is done using purely schematic figures. Inthe figures:

FIG. 1 shows UV transmission values of different fabrics

FIG. 2 shows a piqué weave pattern

FIG. 3 shows views of a fabric according to the invention

FIG. 4 shows a jacquard weave pattern

FIG. 5 shows views of a material according to the invention

FIG. 6 shows an outline of a test arrangement for determining the degreeof the optical covering.

FIG. 1 shows the transmission in percent of four different knittedfabrics over the UV-A and UV range. The wavelength of the light in nm isindicated on the horizontal axis. The four measured knitted fabrics,denoted by numbers 1 to 4 from top to bottom in FIG. 1, are those shownin Table 1.

TABLE 1 First Course No. yarn Second yarn Wale density density GrammageDyeing Weave 1 Lyocell PA 6.6 110f34 10/cm 17/cm   97 g/m2 undyed piqu

ring yarn dtex no matting Ne 30/1 2 Cotton PA 6.6 110f34 10/cm 16/cm 92.9 g/m2 undyed piqu

Nm 55/1 dtex no matting 3 Lyocell PA 6.6 110f34 13/cm 19/cm 117.5 g/m2First jacquard ring yarn dtex no matting yarn Ne 30/1 dyed 4 Lyocell PA6.6 110f34 13/cm 22/cm   128 g/m2 First jacquard ring yarn dtex nomatting yarn Ne 30/1 dyed

FIG. 2 shows an illustration of the weaves of the fabrics of Nos. 1 and2 of Table 1. The weaves in the width of the fabric are shown from leftto right, only one repeat being shown and this sequence often beingrepeated over the width of the fabric. The longitudinal direction of thefabric extends from bottom to top. The weave sequence shown is repeatedin the longitudinal direction of the fabric. In the depiction:

  X means stitch of the first yarn {circumflex over ( )} means loop ofthe first yarn Y means stitch of the second yarn

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the front (left figure) and back (rightfigure) of the fabric according to the invention of No. 2 of Table 1 ona black background.

FIG. 4 shows an illustration of the weaves of the fabrics of Nos. 3 and4 of Table 1. The weaves in the width of the fabric are shown from leftto right, with only one pattern repeat being shown and this sequenceoften being repeated over the width of the fabric. The longitudinaldirection of the fabric extends from bottom to top. The weave sequenceshown is repeated in the longitudinal direction of the fabric. In thedepiction:

  X means stitch of the first yarn Y means stitch of the second yarn —Float

FIG. 5 shows a black and white plan view of the front (left figure) andback (right figure) of the fabric according to the invention of No. 3 ofTable 1 on a black background.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic structure of a test arrangement by means ofwhich the degree of the optical covering can be determined.

A container 1 is shown in which a paper 2 with a grid applied to asurface (not visible) is arranged on the bottom and a fabric 3 isarranged over the paper. On the top in the interior of the container, alight source 4 on the one hand and a camera 5 on the other hand arearranged next to one another at a distance 6 from the fabric of 50 cm.However, a different distance is also conceivable.

The light source 4 has a luminous flux of 1400 lumens. In a successfulexperiment of this test arrangement, a daylight lamp from Elgato of the“Key Light Air” type (model: 20LAB9901) was used. Furthermore, a Canon®M50 camera was used as the camera 5 and a Canon® EF-M 22 1:2 STM lenswas used as the lens mounted on the camera. The person skilled in theart is free to use other equipment. The arrangement provides astandardizable test arrangement by means of which an image of the fabric3 covering paper 2 can be taken and the degree of the optical coveringcan thus be determined using software, for example with the AdobePhotoshop® program.

1. A fabric comprising at least one first yarn and at least one secondyarn, said at least one first yarn comprising at least one regeneratedfiber or cellulose-based fiber, and said at least one second yarncomprising at least one polymer fiber and wherein the proportion byweight of the at least one first yarn and the at least one second yarntogether is at least 80% by weight, based on the total weight of thefabric, and wherein the wale density of the fabric is in the range from10 to 30 per cm and the course density of the fabric is in the rangefrom 15 to 33 per cm, and wherein the at least one second yarn has afineness in the range from 45 to 300 dtex and wherein the grammage ofthe fabric is between 70 and 150 g/m{circumflex over ( )}2 and whereinthe at least one first yarn has a fineness in the range from 150 to 300dtex.
 2. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric exclusivelycomprises cellulose-based fibers, regenerated fibers or polymer fibers,or any combination thereof.
 3. The fabric according to claim 1, whereinthe wale density of the unshrunk fabric is in the range of 10 to 30 percm or the course density of the unshrunk fabric is in the range of 15 to33 cm, or any combination thereof.
 4. The fabric according to claim 1,wherein the at least one first yarn is dyed, or the at least one secondyarn does not contain any pigmentation or optical brighteners.
 5. Thefabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric consists exclusively ofthe at least one first yarn and the at least one second yarn or whereinthe fiber content of the cellulose-based fiber or regenerated fiber inthe at least one first yarn is at least 90% based on the total fibercontent of all the fibers of the at least one first yarn, or wherein thefiber content of the polymer fiber in the at least one second yarn is atleast 90% by weight based on the total fiber content of all the fibersof the at least one second yarn, or wherein the at least one second yarncomprises at least 80% by weight polymer.
 6. The fabric according toclaim 1, wherein the proportion by weight of the at least one first yarnis at least 30% by weight and at most 70% by weight based on the totalweight of the fabric, and the proportion by weight of the at least onesecond yarn is at least 30% by weight and at most 70% by weight based onthe total weight of the fabric, and wherein the ratio of the at leastone second yarn relative to the at least one first yarn is at least 1and at most
 3. 7. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabrichas a transmittance of UVB rays or UVA rays, or both UVB and UVA rays ofat least 20% or wherein the fabric has a UV protection factor (USF) andUltraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), determined according to theAustralian/New Zealand Standard 4399:1996 for sun protecting clothingevaluation and classification (AS/NZS4399: 1996) in the range from 1.5to
 5. 8. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric has a piquéor jacquard weave
 9. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabricis a knitwear.
 10. A garment comprising a fabric according to claim 1.11. The fabric according to claim 2, wherein the at least one secondyarn is a multifilament and wherein the grammage of the fabric isbetween 90 and 130 g/m{circumflex over ( )}2, or wherein the at leastone first yarn is a monofilament, or any combination thereof.
 12. Thefabric according to claim 3, wherein the wale density of the fabric,shrunk or when moist, or both, is in the range from 10 to 30 per cm, andthe course density of the fabric, shrunk or when moist, or both, is inthe range from 15 to 33 per cm, or a combination of said wale densityand course density.
 13. The fabric according to claim 4, wherein thefabric has a degree of optical covering of at least 40% or a maximum of90%, or both.
 14. The fabric according to claim 5, wherein the at leastone second yarn comprises at least 80% by weight polyamide or polyesterand comprises less than 10% by weight additives, and the at least onesecond yarn contains less than 10% by weight pigmentation or opticalbrighteners.
 15. The fabric according to claim 8, wherein the at leastone first yarn and the at least one second yarn form the jacquardpattern.
 16. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is aknitted fabric.
 17. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabricis a piqué or jacquard knitted fabric.
 18. The fabric according to claim1, wherein the fabric is a jacquard jersey knitted fabric.
 19. Thefabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a knitted fabrichaving a first plurality of stitches and a second plurality of floats orhandles, wherein the second plurality of floats or handles is 10 to 35%,of the sum of the first and second pluralities, or wherein the fabrichas handles or floats and the handles or floats are present in 40 to 60%of the wales, or the handles or floats are present in 20 to 60% of thecourses.